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INTERESTS OF GEEAT BRITAIN.effected, wliich was to have a defensive alliance for itssequel.But Maria Theresa, who would consent to no sacrifice, rejected this proposal of reconciliation, chiefly influencedby the visionary hopes so absurdly excited in her by the negotiations in London. 1Considered merely in a political view,Walpole's plan would have been excellent; but ministerstoo often forgetthat political plans are morally impracticable, so long as political motives are subject to the influenceof the passions. How could it have been possible to effecta solid union between two powers, when the principles onwhich it was based demanded the compulsory surrender ofconsiderable provinces from the one to the other ?England had therefore no alternative remaining, buteither to leave Austria to her fate, or to interpose for herdeliverance ; and, notwithstanding the unfortunate issue ofthe Spanish war, she chose the latter, which the voice ofthe nation loudly demanded. "Walpole, however, while heheld the reins of government, would not renounce his oldpolicy he wished to administer succour without ;involvinghimself in the war ;he furnished subsidies and took Germantroops into pay.Both these phenomena, subsidies and mercenary troops,especially characterize the continental policy of Englandfrom this period. It is requisite therefore that we shouldexamine them somewhat more minutely with regard to theirnature and their effects ;and indeed the more attentivelywe view them, the more unfair and partial will the employment of them often be considered, especiallyin later times.The granting of subsidies to foreign states was not, aswe have already shown above, p. 396, first introduced bythe kings of the house of Hanover, but had prevailed asearly as the reign of William IIL, and more especially inthat of Anne, duringthe war of the Spanish succession.Upon a general view, it appears a consequence of the un-1The most credible and satisfactory explanation wliich we have received ofall the diplomatic relations and negotiations of the British cabinet, at thatperiod, derived entirely from public documents, and supported by them, firstappeared in the two works of W, Coxe. Memoirs of Robert Walpole," 1798,3 vols., and " Memoirs of Horace Walpole," 4to, 1802. I refer particularly tothe last, pp. 21 1, 224, et seq. What valuable materials of every kind, historicaland moral, do these works present to the future historian of Great Britain,under the house of Hanover !They have been the first to render such a history of the whole period of the two Walpoles feasible.